ITALIAN students have swapped the island of Sicily for the town of Crewe following the success of an exchange last year.

A group of students from the Liceo Scientifico 'E Vittorini' travelled to Crewe as part of a theatrical exchange with South Cheshire College.

Students from the Danebank Avenue college went to Sicily last year to take part in some international festivals.

The Italian pupils have stayed with performing arts students and visited many different places such as Liverpool, Manchester and Alton Towers.

And the highlight of the visit has been the chance to take part in theatrical activities organised by the performing arts students.

Organiser Maria D'Amico said: "By allowing students to communicate through drama across cultures is very important in our global village.

"We are very proud of our country's theatrical origins and the students have been able to experience this side of English culture while being able to offer the students at South Cheshire College an insight into theirs."

South Cheshire College students are already preparing for their return trip to Sicily next year.

There they will act alongside the Italian students in a joint theatrical venture at an international festival.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.